Line guide for fishing reels

Abstract

A spincast reel, having a line spool which is aligned along the axis of a fishing rod. A rotating cap on the front of the spool, having retractable fingers, serves to wind up the line on the spool during retrieval. The line passes from the spool through a moveable line control arm, which is connected to a digit actuated lever for movement from an aligned position ahead of the spool, continuously through to a position at right angles to the axis of the spool. The line passes through a line guide in the line control arm; the line guide is lined with a freely spinning surface, supported on ball bearings.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a fishing reel of the type having a non rotating line spool mounted with its axis in line with a fishing rod, a fishing line passing through a line guide from a front end of the line spool, a line winding member rotatably mounted to rotate about said line spool axis to wind said fishing line onto said line spool, the improvement comprising: a feathering line guide, comprising: a thumb plate, depressed responsive to finger pressure;   means for positioning said line guide, proportional to said finger pressure on said thumb plate, to any point between a position directly in front of said line spool axis to a position to one side of said spool;   means responsive to said finger pressure on said thumb plate for disengaging said line winding member as said line guide traverses from a position directly in front of said line spool axis to a position to a side of said line spool; and   means for biasing said line guide to a position in front of said line spool as said thumb plate is released.     
     
     
       2. The fishing reel of claim 1 said means for positioning said line guide comprising: a line control arm pivotally mounted to said reel, extending to said front end of said line spool.   said line guide being in said line control arm,   an arm pivotally connecting said line control arm to said thumb plate whereby said line guide is pivoted from a position in front of said line spool to a position to a side of said line spool, said position corresponding to the depression of said thumb plate,   a spring for biasing said line control arm to said line guide position in front of said line spool when said thumb plate is released and,   a means for disengaging said line winding member as said thumb plate is depressed.